Electrical switching apparatus



Feb. 24, 1925. I 1,527,511

I M. c. GARLICK A ELECTRICAL SWITCHING APPARATUS k Filed Oct. 29 1925 2 Sheets-Sheet 1 A TTORNE 3-! A I Patented Feb. 24, 1925.

UNITED STATES MAURICE O. GARLICK, O'F EASTON, PENNSYLVANIA.

ELECTRICAL SWITCHING APPARATUS.

Application filed dctober 29,1923. Serial No. 671,515.

To all whom it may concern:

lie it known that I, MAInnon C. GARLIoK, a citizen of the United States, and a resident of Easton, county of Northampton, and State of Pennsylvania, have invented new and useful Improvements in Electrical Switching Apparatus, of which the following is a specification.

My invention relates to an improvement in electrically operated switch mechanism. Switching apparatus of the present invention derives the power for its actuation from an electrically operated member or members adapted to supply a power stroke in two opposite directions, as, for example, the power may be derived from a double acting solenoid, that is to say, a solenoid apparatus comprising a core and a pair of actuating coils therefor, so arranged that when current is passed through one coil the core is projected outwardly and when current is passed through the other coil the solenoid coil is retracted, but other double acting electrically operated power supplying devices'may be utilized, if desired.

A variety of control devices and electrical circuit arrangements are well known and in common use for securing such elective move ment of thecore of a double actmg solenoid or equivalent electrical device, and for this reason a detailed showing of such well known part of the apparatus has not been included in my drawings, it being understood that any means may be made use of under the control of the motorman, whereby upon coming to a certain portion of the trolley, third rail or the like, properly constructed and arranged for the purpose, the motorman is able at will to complete a circuit which will cause the solenoid coil or its equivalent to make a power stroke in either direction.

The present invention is more particularly concerned with the devices for utilizing the power stroke obtained as described for causing a corresponding movement of the pivoted switch tongue, which it is desired to operate, and the purpose of the invention consists in the provision of novel apparatus for this purpose, which comprises an adjustable pull or expansion spring and is of simple character, efiicient in operation, readily assembled, not readily gotten out of order, and which can be readily removed or taken down in whole or in part by labor which is relatively unskilled as compared with skilled labor ordinarily required for this purpose, and with a minimum of trouble and a minimum of interruption of traflic.

Further objects of the invention will appear in connection with the description of the preferred embodiment of the invention which is shown in the accompanying drawings, and which it is tobe understood is intended only for the purpose of illustra tion and for aii'ording an understanding of the invention and not for the purpose of imposing limitations upon the invention.

In the said drawings, Fig. 1 is a small scale plan view of a switch with a box for containing the switch control apparatus located alongside thereof. Fig. 2 is a partial plan view on enlarged scale with the box cover removed to show the working parts. Fig. 3 is a part side and part sectional view with a part thereof broken away and the sectional part being taken on line 3-3, Fig. 2. Fig. 4; is a section on line 44, Fig. 2. Fig. 5 is a view similar to a portion of Fig. 2, but with the parts in a different position from that of Fig. 2. Fig. 6 is a longitudinal sectional detail view of a form of dash pot preferably made useof. Fig. 7 is aside viewwith parts broken away of an electrical plug or coupling. Fig. 8 is a partial wiring diagram for a double acting solenoid.

Reference character 10 designates the switch tongue pivoted at 12 between the switch rails 14, 16. Alongside of the switch rails there is provided a box or casing 17 for receiving the switch actuating parts hereinafter referred to. A lug 18 projects downwardly from the lower side of the switch tongue 10 and extends through and below a slot 20 formed in the switch base 22.

A readily removable push and pull operating device is applied to said downwardly projecting lug 18. In the form shown the rod 24 extends through an opening 26 in the lug 18 and is provided therebeyond with a readily removable pull imparting device such as cotter pin 28. Such rod 2% serves to impart pulling movement to the switch tongue 10 and said rod 2 1 is surrounded by the distance sleeve 30, which is interposed "between the adjacent side of lug 18 of switch tongue 10 and the arm 82 of the oscillatory lever 34. i j

The connection between arm 32 of lever 34 and switch tongue 10 and the rod 2 1 and sleeve 30 is of such nature that same may be readily ,adjusted and readily taken apart, and .so that turning movementof lever 34 will result in endwise movement of rod 24 in sleeve 30. In the form shownthe rod24 is passed through slot 36 provided between the two lips 38, 38 of said lever arm32, and, said-1,

rod 2 1 is prevented from getting out of such slot by the pin 40 passed through extensions of such lips 38, 38 as shown in Fig. 5. The part otarm 32 of lever 3A which coacts with rod '24; and sleeve 30 is preferably ;made round or substantially sonn -horizontal .section, as indicated; at 42, Fig. 5, and adjustability is secure-d by the provision of a plurality ofwashers 44c, 441held in; place by a cotter pin 46 passed through this endofthe .rod 24;. It will be evident-that byzusing washers otvarying thicknessnnd bychangpin 52. The arm '54U0't'leven34: opposite arm 32 thereof is provided with a preferably straight trackway 56 tenmin ating,-ln stop horns 58, 58 andadapted to receive anjd limit the V movement of the flanged anti-triction wheel 60 onsaid trackway 56. The antifriction wheel 60 is pivotally mounted: at 62 in a fioatingrlink member:64,which1has a hook 66 at one end for attachment to the hook-68 of pull or expansionqspring 70,;rand at its opposite end is:pivotally and-slidably connected to the plunger 72;which-.fo-rms or comprises an extension of the, core:of --,,the double acting power member,- as a solenoid 74-. The spring exerts pullon'lever 3 1- through. engagement of r roller 60 therewith. In thexlorm shown the pivotal-and slidable connection between these parts is provided by forming saidplunger 72 with a lateral extension 76 having an elongated slot 78 therein, and pin 80 is passedthrough said $101178 and through a, hole providedthercfor in the link 64-.

A dash pot 82 isprei era bly providedvfor slowing down the final movement of the switch tongue and same may be pivotally connected between the casing'l'i andfthe lever 3-1 as by beingpivoted; at 84- to. casing 17 and at 86 to lever; 34..

. The pull or;expansion spring;70 is preferably located in an, extension 17 of casing 17, and is so constructed and mounted that the, spring and-.its carrying device canibe readily removed or replaced. Themountingtor springrTO comprises-the yoke 88,,the arms 90,- 90 vhereof are rounded; at their ends and received in rounded seats in the lugs 92, 92, which project inwari dlywfrom and are preferably-r formed integralwiththe walls of the casing extension 17. Said yoke 8,8 has arplurality of pairs. ot-iundercut notches 941, 94provided..in the upper side bar 96 is-belowthe-pivotal supports of the arms DO, 90 of yoke 88in the casing-92, 92.

It will be seen that-byraisin-g the yoke on its pivot ends crossbar-H961 can be: engaged witheanyi desired-pair of notches 94 in order togivethe desired-tension and that upon depression-of yoke 88ithe spring 70 is both stretched and held in position andthere is no tendencyf o'ttheyoke 88 to rise because of the ,pivntal -attachlnent ofspring 70 therewith passing below a dead center with respect to the pivoting points 92, 92 of yoke 88.

The dash, pot 82 preferably, comprises a cylinder1041, a piston 106 and the piston rod 108 passing through the gland 110. Said piston-106 has one or more perforations 112 through-which the fluid 114-, such as oil or .theilike withqwhich the cylinder is partially filled, may pass relatively slowlytoward the ,endof the stroke in either direction-oi the piston 106, thus permitting a irelatively rapid first-,movement of piston rod-108 and connected parts, which is followed by a relatively rslower final or closii'ig movement of 7 these parts.

: Itis of specialimportance in apparatus of this character thatthe electrical connections shall. be securely held after being made .and at the same time that the parts, may be readily separated for repairs, etc. and special provisionhas been madetothis end by passingthe coil wires 115, 110 for the :doublenacting solenoid 74 ,out through-the pipe 117,Ymaking.use othan ordinary pipe couplingwherein the electrical connecting plug or;the:likemaybe located and. protected, and yet ,be readily accessible by merely opening up the parts of the ordinary pipe coupling. Thisfpipe coupling comprises theitwo-coupling members 110, 120, and,th e:customary threaded coupling sleeve 121.. A pair ofinsulating disks 122, 123 are adapted to be receivedwithiir the sleeve 121 between thecoupling members 119 and 120, and rubber or, other insulating rings 124., 125 and 126- are provided-on the outer sides ofsaid" disks 122 and 123.-and between the same respectively@ The female portion of the plug. is mounted in the disk 122 and comprises a pair,- ofheaded sleeves 127 12? inserted througlropenings. in the disk 122 and having the wires 115 and 116 secured in place therein as by means of set screws 130, 130. For the maleportion of the plug the disk 123 has the plug pins 131, 131 secured in place therein, and the wires 132 and 133 are secured in place therein as by means of set screws 134-, 134:. It will be seen that when the parts just described are assembled and the coupling sleeve 1S1 screwed in place, there is no strain on. the electric plugging parts and there is no tendency for them to separate, and yet by merely unscrewing the coupling sleeve 121 complete access can be had to all the parts of the electrical connecting device. Other forms of electric plugs may, of course, be used, but the one described, which has been designed and constructed particularly for use in connection with the other parts of the apparatus described herein, is preferable.

Where a double acting solenoid is employed the partial wiring diagram of Fig. 8 is preferably made use of, wire 116 leading to coil 160 and the wire 115 to coil 162, and both of the coils may be conveniently grounded within the casing, as indicated at 164:, the casing 17 being secured to the rail 1 1 in any desired way in order to obtain a good grounding connection.v

The operation of the apparatus is as follows: the motor-man making use of the well known electrical connection and apparatus for this purpose operates the device by completing the circuit either by wire 115 or 116 to the ground. We will first assume that upon current being passed through wire 116, the plunger 72 is projected from the sole noid 7 1. This moves the parts from the position shown in Fig. 2 to that of Fig. 5, which results in throwing the switch tongue 10 against switch rail 14-. It will be understood, 0i course, that the actuation of plunger 72 by the solenoid is substantially momentary, but same is sufficient to carry the wheel past dead center position with re spect to lever 84 and that the contractile pull imposed thereon by the stretching of the spring in the first part of the movement oi lever Biwill result in forcing the wheel 60 to complete its entire stroke to the position shown in Fig. 5, where it rests against the stop member 58 located in the side to ward the switch.

In the reverse actuation, the operation is altogether similar. Solenoid 72, being retracted by current passing through coil 162, is pulled from the position oi? Fig. 5 away from the switch. rail and toward the posi tion of Fig. 2 and at the same time spring 70 is put under tension. If the movement of the switch tongue is not completed through the action of the solenoid, as it may be it the period of current passage through the solenoid coil is suificiently long, same will be caused by the pull of spring &

70 to complete its movement to the opposite stop member 58 oi lever 53% and to complete the turning of lever into the position ot Fig. 2. If there should be a lack of proper adjustment between the lever 53% and the parts connecting it to the rail 10, same can be eliminated by simple changes in the arrangement and size of the washers a l, 14i.

It will be seen from the illustrative embodiment described that the invention at tords a simple, reliable and readily replaceable means t'or operating a switch from any form of double throw actuating member, such as a double throw solenoid or equivalent device. a

I claim:

1. In an electrically operated switch, a pivoted switch tongue, an oscillatory lover having one arm connected to the switch tongue and having a roller trackway on the other arm, a double throwelectromagnetic member, a link operatively connected at one end thereof with said member, a roller on the link and adapted to travel the trackway, and a spring secured to the opposite end oi? the link.

2. In an electrically operated switch, a pivoted switch tongue, an oscillator lever having an arm connected to the switch tongue and having a roller trackway on the other arm, a link, a roller on said link adapted to travel said trackway, and a double throw electromagnetic member adapted to impart movement to the roller through said link and thereby oscillate the lever and actuate the switch tongue.

3. In switch operating mechanism, a double throw power member, a double throw switch actuating member, and means for imparting movement from the first member to the second member comprising a floating link connected to the first member and a lever connected to the second member.

a. In switch operating mechanism, double throw power member, a double throw switch actuating member, a lever having an arm connected to the second member, an endwise spring retracted link having means of lost motion and moving-past-dead-center connect1on with the other arm 01 the lever, whereby the spring pull on the llnk is communicated through to the switch to lock it in either position, and means for imparting movement from the first member to the link.

5. In switch operating mechanism, a double throw power member, a double throw switch actuating member, a lever having an arm connected tothe second member, a third floating spring retracted member having limited-movement, spring-reaction engagement with the other arm of the lever, and means for imparting movement from the first member to the third member.

6. In an electrically operated switch, a pivoted switch tongue, an oscillatory lever,

adjustable means for connecting an arm o said lever to the switch tongue, a trackway on the other arm of said lever, a link having a roller thereon to travel on the trackway, a double throw electromagnetic men'iber ha ving a slidable connection with one e d of said link, and an adjustably mounted pull or expansion spring connected with the op posite end of said link.

7. In an electrically operated switch, a pivoted switch tongue, an oscillatory lever, adjustable means of connection between one arm of the lever and switch tongue, a trackway on the other arm of the lever, and means for actuating the lever comprising a double throw electroi'i'iagnetic member, a spring adapted to be tensioned at substantially a right angle to the path of move ment of said electroi'i'iagnetic member, a link for connecting said electromagnetic 'n'ieinber and spring together, and a roller adapted to engage said lever traclnvay.

8. In an electrically operated switc i, a pivoted switch tongue, :1 double throw electron'iagnetic member, and means comprising an oscillatory lever having a trackway, a link having a roller t hereon adapted to travel said trackway, and a spring connected to said link adapted to pass dead center with respect to said lever tor'imparting double throw movement to the switch tongue and for holding the switch resiliently against the rail on either side thereof.

9. In an electrically operated switch, switch rails, a switch tongue pivoted therebetween, a double throw electromagnetic member having movementtoward and away from the switch rails, an oscillatory lever having a trackway on one arm extending in the same general direction as the path of movement of said member, adjustable means for making a push and pull connection between the opposite lever arm and the switch tongue, a link having at one end a laterally slidable connection with said electromagnetic member, a pivoted yoke having a plurality of pairs of slots in its upper tace, a cross-bar adapted to be received in an pair of said slots, a pull spring having one end connected to said cross-bar and the other end connected to the remaining end of said link, and an anti-friction member on said link adapted to travel the trackway and actuate said lever and thereby the switch tongue, the spring' serving to assure completion of lever and switch tongue movement and to hold the switch tongue resiliently against the rail on either side thereof.

In testimony whereof, I have signed my name hereto.

MAURICE C. GARLICK. 

